Philippians (written)

Monday, 30 January 2017

…though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: Philippians 3:4

The Greek literally reads, “…even though myself having confidence.” The English translation gives the correct sense based on his later words, but at the moment, he is placing himself on the same level with the Jews and comparing himself against them. In essence, “You Jews have confidence in the flesh, well so do I!” Again, he really does not, but for the intent of what he will say to them, he is calling to mind that he is not less than them in what could be boasted on.

If he were to boast like others, it would be of his human nature of which he will give a detailed description in the coming verses. And so to bolster his certain ability to boast, he continues with, “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so…” He is setting up the “mutilation” of verse 2 (meaning those Jews who circumcise the flesh, but not the heart) for a fall. He would not begin an argument unless he was certain he could prevail in it.

Paul’s “more so” will be an astonishing resume of lineage and learning which will place him at the very top of Hebrew society. Yay for Paul! But is this what life is about? Instead, he will eventually come around to showing just what those things mean in comparison to having Christ.

Life application: What thing in your life do you think you have a right to boast in? Do you have a nice house? Do you have a lot of money? Are you handsome or beautiful? Do you have a remarkable genealogy that includes kings and zillionaries? What is it that you feel is the most valuable part of who you are? If you say anything other than “Jesus Christ,” you have your priorities completely out of whack.

Lord God, help us to consider what is of value in our lives? Our money? A big house? Fame, beauty, or color of skin? Are we proud of our genealogy? Are we confident in the position we have in our job? All of these things are temporary and pointless, aren’t they? Unless we say, “Jesus Christ is the most important part of my life!”, we have priorities that are futile and which will die with us. But in Christ, there is the greatest of honor and blessing. Help us to think rightly, and to live our lives in accord with our relationship to Jesus. Amen.

Sunday, 29 January 2017

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, Philippians 3:3

Paul, now clearly explains the “mutilation” of the last verse by stating a contrast. He says, “For we are the circumcision.” He uses the abstract term “the circumcision” to speak of those who are the truly circumcised. This was written to a Gentile church who had never been circumcised, and yet he boldly states this. If Paul was circumcised, and they were not, and yet he says “we,” then he must be referring to something not of the flesh. And this is exactly so. In Romans 2, he says –

“For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶ Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? ²⁷ And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? ²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹ but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:25-29

His words show that circumcision of the flesh means nothing unless it is accompanied by a change in the heart. And his words are not without prior confirmation. In fact, the thought goes all the way back to Moses himself. In Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6, he mentions circumcision of the heart. This is then repeated by Jeremiah hundreds of years later –

“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
And take away the foreskins of your hearts,
You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Lest My fury come forth like fire,
And burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah 4:4

Israel had made the immense mistake of assuming that they were righteous before God because of who they were and because of what they had done. This was the farthest thing from the truth. They relied on that which was fleshly and did not “worship God in the Spirit.” These words go back to what Jesus said in John 4 –

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23, 24

Jesus’ words imply that not all supposed worship is truly worship. A Jew could claim they were worshipping God by being circumcised, wearing certain clothes, and observing certain rituals. However, such is not the case. True worship comes from the heart and is directed to God in a spiritual manner, not in an external, earthly manner. To worship God in the Spirit is to “rejoice in Christ Jesus.” He has accomplished all of that which is necessary to reconcile us to God. Therefore, we are to rejoice in Him and in what He has done, “and have no confidence in the flesh.”

What this means is that for those in Christ circumcision of the flesh means nothing – absolutely nothing. It cannot bring a person any nearer to God. In fact, if a person who receives Christ later opts to be circumcised in order to obtain God’s favor, they have set aside the grace of God in Christ and have become obligated to the entire law. Paul explains this in Galatians. No person should boast in anything but Jesus Christ and what He has done.

Life application: It has become very popular today to observe certain feasts from the Law of Moses, to give up eating certain foods prohibited there, and to be circumcised in order to make God “happy.” Paul says otherwise. Circumcision schmircumcision. It is contrary to a right relationship with God, and it shows that the person does not trust that what Jesus did is sufficient for their salvation. It is stamping on His work and saying, “Nice try, but I can do better.” Reject such people as warped and foolish.

Lord God, I absolutely refuse to set aside the grace of Jesus Christ. May each of us stand on His finished work alone and put no confidence in any external ritual. Praise God for the work of Christ my Lord. Praise God for Jesus. Amen.

Saturday, 28 January 2017

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! Philippians 3:2

Paul now actually begins his words of warning and admonition which he hinted at in the preceding verse. Although his words can include other parties who are harmful to the faith, they are directed specifically at one group of people, the Judaizers. These are the Jews, or those following the Jews, who have come to reinsert the law, in part or in whole. They are those who, by one work or many, set aside the grace of Jesus Christ in order to establish a righteousness of their own.

He begins with “Beware of dogs.” The translation unfortunately leaves off an article before “dogs.” It is necessary and it makes the warning less forceful than it should be. “Beware of THE dogs.” The word “beware” in Greek is blepó, and “it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert)” (HELPS Word Studies).

Paul is asking them to mark out and be spiritually aware of these wicked people. They are “the dogs.” The term “dog” is highly derogatory. It indicates a raging unclean animal. Dogs in the Middle East, even to this day, are not considered with the delight of folks in the west. They travel in packs, eat corpses and other dirty things, and are considered disease-ridden nuisances. This is seen in both testaments of the Bible. Paul’s words probably go beyond mere uncleanness, but also to the fact that they are snarling savages which tear and bite at those around them. This is how severely he treats those who would come in and attempt to reintroduce the law, in part or in whole. It is the greatest offense to the purity of the gospel. In Revelation 22:15, we read this about such people –

“But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”

By trampling on His grace, Jesus places these evil-doers first in a list of the worst of all offenders.

Next he says to “beware of evil workers.” Again, an article has been dropped which takes away the severity of his words. It says, “…beware of THE evil workers.” The Judaizers are the epitome of such evil workers. There are those who are caught in sin and may not even realize it, but these people willingly cut themselves off from the grace of Christ, and they actively work evil against His name. Jesus has strong words for them, again from Revelation –

“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” Revelation 3:9

A true Jew would come to Christ, understanding He is the fulfillment of all that is spoken in Scripture. A false Jew will work against Christ, demanding the law be adhered to in part or in whole. This is truly one who is the evil worker. He warns against them in several epistles. In 2 Corinthians, he identifies them and their false works with their true master –

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

He completes the verse with, “…beware of the mutilation.” This is a scathing phrase directed to the very heart of the sect of Judaizers, circumcision. He uses a word found only here in the NT. It indicates to mutilate or to spoil. A word in English which meets the irony of this word would be concision, which would then stand opposed to circumcision. Paul, in essence, is saying that those who are Jews in flesh only are simply flesh-mutilated and flesh-mutilators. They boast in the flesh, but speak against the grace of Christ. Much of the book of Galatians deals with exactly this subject. The warning there is so strong that he sums up the process of physical circumcision with these words –

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. ⁴ You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:1-4

Life application: If you wonder why Judaizers and Hebrew Roots movement people speak so vehemently against Paul, it is because they are heretics who are set on a course to hell. They willingly cut off their flesh in order to cut themselves off from Christ. They are the epitome of wickedness because they see the truth of Christ’s grace, and yet they work against it. Such will find no peace, nor will any who follow in their deeds. Stand fast on the grace of Jesus Christ alone.

Lord God, Your word has the strongest and most condemning words of all for those who would set aside the grace found in the work of Jesus Christ. Instead of trusting once and for all in His cross and His resurrection, they reinsert the law, they mandate external rights, and they hold to certain observances, as if that is what makes them holy. But you have shown that we can only be holy through the work of Christ. Help us to trust in this, and in this alone. May we never set aside His grace by attempting to merit your favor in any other way. Jesus! Only Jesus. Amen.

Friday, 27 January 2017

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Philippians 3:1

Paul begins chapter 3 with “Finally.” Rather than, “to sum up,” the word indicates “something remaining,” and so this begins the last major section of the letter. In it, he will provide warnings against various ills that he is sure they will face. He will speak against the teachings of the Judaizers, he will speak against those who live for this world rather than setting their minds on that which pertains to our heavenly position, and he will warn against factions and divisions within the body. These, along with other words of admonition and encouragement, are to be a part of this “Finally” which is now given.

Next he notes “my brethren.” He is speaking to those who are united as one in the family of Christ. It is those who have received Him who are as his own brothers in the faith. To these, he again reminds them to “rejoice in the Lord.” It is a reminder that they are, in fact, “in the Lord.” He has saved them, and so no matter what occurs, they should look to the glory ahead as a means of enduring whatever trials now exist. In Christ, there is a hope which transcends all earthly troubles, and so he asks them to be joyful in that fact.

His next words form a new thought, and are not logically tied to “rejoice in the Lord.” He says, “For me to write the same things to you is not tedious.” It is uncertain what exactly he is referring to. It could be another letter, or letters, he wrote to them. It could be what he has told them while with them. Or, it could be what he has said already in this letter, and which he will say again in this “Finally” section.

What is important is that whatever he is referring to specifically, it is not a burdensome thing to repeat himself. Rather, he notes that “for you it is safe.” In other words, the repetition will instill in them the importance of his instruction. If someone reads the Bible only once, they will have a very general view of its significance. But for the one who reads it again and again, it will continue to have more and more importance. The warnings will call out more notably; the grace will be more evident; the glory will radiate out more fully. Paul is instilling in them the same words so that they will remember what he has said and be more likely to apply them to their (and thus also we to our) lives. For his audience, this is a safe measure.

Life application: Doctrine matters. The more we look into the word of God, the more fully we will understand matters of doctrine, and the more likely we will be to apply them to our lives. But we must come to it as the word of God which is to be reverenced. For those who read the Bible with the view that it is not the word of God, the warnings and admonitions will harden, not soften their hearts. Let us be wise in our pursuit of this magnificent, superior word.

Glorious heavenly Father, You have given us the greatest treasure in Your wonderful word. It is a light and a beacon to guide us in our daily walk. It is a roadmap to a place of peaceful rest. It is a sword which defends against immorality and wickedness. It is a rule and guide for honest, sincere, and holy living. Thank You, O God, for this marvelous and superior word which You have given to us. Amen.

Thursday, 26 January 2017

…because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. Philippians 2:30

There are several variations in Greek texts which are argued among scholars. Determining which is the correct and original is important, but apparently no variation is of great weight, and does not change the overall intent of the words.

The words, “…because for the work of Christ he came close to death” are still talking about Ephaphroditus. His efforts in his duties probably wore him down physically to the point where he was without the ability to ward off sickness. It shows the mental determination of a person who was willing to put the needs of Paul, and the work of Christ, ahead of his own personal well-being. In this determined state, Paul says that he was “not regarding his own life.”

The correct Greek wording is argued here, but Vincent’s Word Studies notes that his choice of the original indicates “to venture, to expose one’s self. It was also a gambler’s word, to throw down a stake. Hence Paul says that Epaphroditus recklessly exposed his life.” The Greek word was used as a descriptor in the early church for those who took care of the sick at the risk of their own lives. Thus they were the “reckless people.”

Epaphroditus was so engaged in his duties that he fell into this category. And this was, according to Paul, “to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.” The wording in the English almost makes it sound like a reproach, but Greek scholars ensure us that the Greek carries no such implication. Rather, it was simply that he filled up a need which could not be filled up otherwise. Rather than a rebuke, it is a compliment. He was sent by them to fill this need, and the need was then met.

Life application: We have one shot at this life. Should we stay in bed and get a bit more sleep? Should we go see one more movie instead of dedicating that time to the Lord? In the end, we all need a break from our labors, but the more frivolous activities we engage in, the less we are doing for His glory. Each of us should be willing to say, “Use me up now Lord. This one life is for You.”

Use me up now Lord. This earthly life I live is for You! Amen.